Liverpool took their tally for the campaign to 28, two more than Paris Saint-Germain, as Mané, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah’s 30th goal of the season inflicted the heaviest home defeat on Porto in their European history. Klopp’s team have now scored 99 goals in all competitions this season and the manager was full in his praise of Mané after a recent dip in form.

The Liverpool manager said of his forward: “He gave the right answer. I said to him after the last game when we met on the pitch: ‘Finally, you are back.’ Tonight he showed it again.

Sadio Mane
“He was always important, he was always fantastic for us even in his ‘not that good’ moments. That’s real quality. If you are not 100% but still involved in goals that’s really important. Then it will come, if you keep working really hard like he did.

“The first was a little lucky, but the other two – the second one was about being in the right place and he used his fantastic skills on the third one so it’s good, really good. I’m happy.”

Klopp described Liverpool’s performance as “exactly as good as necessary” and claimed the last-16 tie was not over, despite the quarter-finals beckoning following this emphatic away win.

“I’m too long in the business to think anything is sorted before the final whistle is done,” he said.

Mohamed Salah, once again, was also in line for praise from his manager following his latest Liverpool milestone. Klopp said: “We spoke a lot about Mo in the last few weeks, all completely deserved. Sadio had his comeback tonight and Roberto was there again with outstanding work rate.

“If somebody is the second quickest [to 30 goals] at this big club that makes it more exciting, so congratulations. Hopefully it won’t stop.”